Goggomobil 8-cwt. Van Offered
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THE Goggomobil 5-cwt. van and 6-cwt. pick-up range, produced by Hans Glas, G.m.b.H., Dingolfing, Western Germany, has been augmented by the Esquire 8-cwt. van and an ambulance, both based on the estate-car version of the Goggomobil Royal car.
The new models will make their first appearance in this country at the Commercial Motor Show which opens at Earls Court, London, on September 23, in company with the smaller Goggomobil designs which were seen at the 1958 Show.
Unlike the 5-cwt. and 6-cwt. vehicles, which have rear-mounted 293-c.c. or 392-c.c. twin two-stroke engines driving independently sprung rear wheels through pre-selective gearboxes, the Esquire has a conventional chassis layout with a forward engine driving the rear wheels.
The van has a capacity of 36 Cu. ft. behind the seats and will carry just under 8 cwt. in addition to the driver, whilst the ambulance carries a single demountable stretcher and an attendant's seat, In both eases the rear dcior is, contrary to normal practice, a single top-hinged component.
The van is relatively light, weighing approximately 15 cwt. unladen hut including the driver. This is partly because of the unusual engine employed. It is a two-cylindered horizontally
opposed overhead-valve four-stroke with air cooling.
It has a capacity of 688 c.c. and, with a compression ratio of 7.2 to 1, produces 30 b.h.p. at 4,900 r.p.m. and 34 lb.-ft_ torque at 3,500 r.p.m. The gearbox, mounted in unit with it, provides four forward speeds and reverse with synchromesh on all forward gears.
Semi-elliptic springs carry the rigid hypoid rear axle, and these are assisted by small sealed rubber air cushions and telescopic dampers. The independently sprung front wheels are located by wishbones and radius arms. Coil springs and air cushions are damped by shock absorbers similar to those employed at the rear.
Worm-and-sector steering gear is fitted, and 5.20-12 in. tyres are the standard equipment. Drum diameter for the hydraulic braking system is 9.05 in. all round, and the total lining area is 76 sq. in.
The all-steel body is constructed integrally with box-section reinforcement members which carry some of the chassis components. Internal body length behind the seats is 4 ft., and the interior width is 3 ft. 9 in.
Structurally, the ambulance differs from the van only in that windows are fitted in the body sides.